I like the intellectual stimulation, problem solving, and the people I work for. That’s why I keep working.

What I gave up was the BS aspects of the job. Having early retirement money means I could say to my boss that I’d like to be an IC again instead of a manager and cut out the bits of the job that I don’t want to do. At the moment I’m consulting. I set my rate and work on the stuff that is enjoyable. I can skip the mandatory HR trainings, the workplace politics, the admin busy work. It makes me a more valuable worker, too, because I can be honest without fear of being fired. And I can ramp up or down as I have interest and time.

Anonymous wrote:OP, do you have kids? I think it's having very young kids that makes me feel it's not enough. I just don't know what life might bring.

This. It's different when you still have kids at home in your 40's or 50's vs. it's just the two of you in your 60's. Kids are very expensive. Plus you don't know what the stock market and economy might do. It's a better bet to work more now then retire permanently than retire early with the idea that you'll magically get a high-paying job at age 58 if the economy tanks and you need more money after leaving the workforce for 10 years.

But I hear you, OP. We couldn't wait to leave DC. DH's job went remote during the pandemic, so we moved to an area we really wanted to move to. We had a little over $3M in real estate assets, plus over $3M in other investments. Not enough for DH to stop working, but enough that we could comfortably survive on a lower salary if he ever loses his job. Kids are thriving in excellent public schools, we've made tons of friends, and the lifestyle is just so much more relaxed and fun.

If anyone is looking to do this, look at an area with a decent overall tax picture for your family, excellent public schools, and good, reasonably priced State universities. These things really impact your savings and lifestyle. After freaking out about saving for out of state/private college for our 3 kids (lived in DC), we realized we pretty much already met the 529 goals for in-state universities in the new location. I can't even begin to explain the relief and joy we felt. DC is really hard for families unless you have a high HHI.

Good luck to everyone and I hope you find the lifestyle that works well for your family, wherever that may be.

Anonymous wrote:I used to wonder why older people neglect house maintenance. Turns out, house maintenance is expensive! Even if you buy a brand new home at 50, it will be 30 years old when you’re 80. Going into an older retiree’s home can be crazy, as it oftentimes has become a time capsule. Old folks stop updating almost everything. The point us, retirement is expensive and one way to save funds for basic survival is to neglect the house

This is so true! You need to have a killer home inspector before making a purchase on elderly’s homes
They do ZERO maintenance to the point of life-threatening issues.

My father still works with quite a bit in retirement because he doesn't know what else to do with himself. He could've retired decades ago but won't. He has no hobbies and loves what he does. It's also the fear that if he retires it's the end.

Some people just can't wind down.

People who make much more money than you have a very different relationship with work than you do.

Anonymous wrote:Short answer is because they’re also spending millions of dollars.

Yes.

I have millions, but I don't spend them, so I don't work. Still got up at 6am to walk the dog, make lunches and get the kids to school, though! OP should remember that there are other obligations in life than work...

I used to wonder why older people neglect house maintenance. Turns out, house maintenance is expensive! Even if you buy a brand new home at 50, it will be 30 years old when you’re 80. Going into an older retiree’s home can be crazy, as it oftentimes has become a time capsule. Old folks stop updating almost everything. The point us, retirement is expensive and one way to save funds for basic survival is to neglect the house

OP, I hear you and did exactly what you have described and have never looked back. Accumulated a few million - far less than 7, but with market gains I’m there now - and haven’t done a lick of paying work since. It’s great.

Anonymous wrote:Agree. I figure they just don’t know any better or have other interests.

My MIL is wealthy and continues to work. She doesn’t have any friends and her only hobby is going for a manicure.

Ha ha even on threads as irrelevant as this someone manages to bash her mother in law. Classic.

It really depends on your age and lifestyle. For example, if you have $5 million and you want to retire at 40 vs. 65, that’s a huge difference. The duration of one’s retirement and inflation are really important planning issues. For example, if you want to maintain $150k/year spend, you’ll need $364k when you’re 70, if you start retirement at 40 and assume a 3% inflation rate. Also, if you retire early, health insurance is a costly sum.

Agree. I figure they just don’t know any better or have other interests.

My MIL is wealthy and continues to work. She doesn’t have any friends and her only hobby is going for a manicure.

We loved our jobs and thought we’d keep working until our kids were out of HS, until one day we we looked at each other and said “We’re done.” For most of the reasons you’ve described. We retired, moved out of the DMV and never looked back. I miss the people I worked with, but I don’t miss being away from my family, commuting, being tied to a specific place, having no control over my schedule, stress, etc etc etc.

This is why I’m a SAHM, but most people on dcum would say I’m lazy and living off my DH. Oh well, you can’t please everyone. People who’ve checked out just keep to themselves more.

Yeah I agree with you OP.
That’s why I saved up cash, and other virtually undetectable assets and quit (well I was laid off but never went back). I work very part time for the SSA benefits and am low income on paper. My living quarters are very modest as well as my car, but I am so free and satisfied.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For me it’s not even my work that I dislike, it’s everything else about it - the waking up early getting out of your warm bed on a cold dark winter morning, crappy long commute, have to answer to other people, being compelled to to go work even when you’re not feeling it that day, 5 days week, not having enough time for hobbies, exercise, home cooking, travel, spending time with your family - at least not without feeling like your life is hectic. WFH was supposed to fix some of this but now it’s going away in most places. Also NEEDING to live in a HCOL area with terrible traffic and everyone around you is an obsessive overachiever sucks too.

I ONLY work for money at this point, as soon as I have a few mil I’m gone. I don’t get people with 7+ million dollars who still choose to grind away their young healthy years in the rat race in, to be honest, a crappy city like DC (or any other HCOL area for that matter).

Once you have 7 million, you would want 14.

+1. $7 mill in your 40s in a HCOL with 2-3 kids to support…Not enough. You are not even that rich at this level. A decent 4-bedroom apt in Manhattan starts at $7mill and goes up if you want a nice neighborhood and a good layout. Way up.

Lol, this insanity is why people keep working (and then regret that decision on their deathbeds). A 4-bedroom apartment in Manhattan should be everyone's baseline!